Jones Brook Trail opens June 7

A grand opening of the Jones Brook Trail will be held Saturday, June 7 in St. George.

St. George — The St. George Conservation Commission and Georges River Land Trust announce a celebratory hiking event to open the new Jones Brook Trail in St. George.

The hike will take place Saturday, June 7, at 9 a.m., and is free and open to the public. Participants are encouraged to bring water and a snack and to choose clothing and footwear appropriate for the weather conditions. Please meet at the Wiley Corner parking lot at Fort Point, just off Route 131. For more information call GRLT at 594-5166.

The two-mile Jones Brook Trail connects the town forest (Kinney Woods) to the historic Fort Point and traces parts of upper Jones Brook. The trail route passes through mature softwoods and mixedwood stands, and offers views of beaver lodges and moss-covered granite outcrops.

The Jones Brook Trail is a collaboration between the St. George Conservation Commission and GRLT, and it is the newest section of GRLT’s 42-mile Georges Highland Path. The Path is a network of conservation trails that gives hikers a unique look at the Georges River watershed and helps people forge a close relationship with the land and to develop an active interest in protecting this wonderful region. The trail system is unique in that it is built on privately owned land using hand-shake agreements with more than 50 landowners who have graciously given permission for the public to access their property.

This grand opening event is taking place on the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day. More than 2,000 nationwide events will take place including trail maintenance, hiking, paddling, biking, horseback riding, bird watching, running, trail celebrations and more! National Trails Day encourages all Americans to connect with local outdoor clubs, businesses, community groups, and parks and recreation departments as well as federal land managing agencies to experience, appreciate, and share natural places.